Crate



Aug. 13, 1929. I H. N. KNOWLTON CRATE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 8 1925 Aug-.13, 1929. H. N. KNOWLTON CRATE Filed NOV. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2

MN N MN MN MN Fatented Aug. l3, i929.

UNETE STATES ATENT OFFICE.

HARRY N. KNOWLTON', OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WEYERHAEUSER FOR- EST PRODUCTS, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

CRATE.

Application filed November 8, 1923. Serial No. 673,420.

The present invention relates to crates and its general object is toeconomize in the use of lumber and at the same time to increase the rigidity and strength of the crate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crate so constructed for the'specific purpose of packaging automobiles for export shipment in such manner as to reduce the displacement of the package to a minimum.

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred form of crate embodying the invention Figure 1 is a plan view of the bottom.

Figure 2 is an end view of the bottom.

Figure 3 is a side view of the bottom.

Figure 4: is an inner View of one of the sides.

Figure 5 is an end View of the side.

Figure 6 is a view looking at the bottom edge of the side.

Figure 7 is an inside view of one of the ends.

Figure 8 is an end view of the end.

Figure 9 is a view looking at the lower edge of the end.

Figure 10 is a longitudinal section of the assembled crate.

Figure 11 is a section on the line 1111 in Figure 10.

The bottom, the ends, the sides, and the top of the crate are constructed as separate units which may be secured together to complete the crate. The bottom is formed by longitudinally extending beams or sills 1 to serve as skids and are laterally spaced apart and secured together by a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse bars 2. The skids are further secured together at each end by transverse bars 3 and l, the outer bars 4 being somewhat shorter than the bars 3 so as to expose surfaces 5 of the skids at the several corners of the crate. A. plurality of longitudinally extending boards 6 are fitted together and secured to the under surfaces of the bars 2, 3 and 4, the under surface of the flooring formed by the boards 6 being above the level of the under surfaces of the skids 1. Longitudinal rails or runners 7 are secured to the respective skids 1,

preferably in abutting relation to the ends of bars 2 and are inset from the outer edges of the skids. As shown in Figures 1, 3 and I 10, I prefer to reinforce the transverse tie bars 2 with cleats 2 nailed or otherwise secured to the rails 7.

Each of the ends of the crate is made u of vertically disposed boards 8 fitted together, the boards being secured together by a transverse member 9 at the top of the end,

a transverse member 10 near the bottom of the end but above its lower edge, and a diagonal brace 11. At its opposite ends the end unit is provided with a vertical post 12 which extends downwardly to the bottom The top of the crate'is formed by longitudinally extending boards 23 fitted together and secured together by transverse members 22.- When the top is in position in the assembled crate it is also supported by cross bars 21 resting on cleats 18 secured against the inner faces and below the top edges of the longitudinal members 16 at the upper edges of the side units. The bars 21 and the bars 22 preferably alternate with each other. I

For the purpose of carrying out the specific object of packaging automobiles for ex port shipment blocks 19 are secured to the skids l toward one end of the crate and the blocks are provided with suitable fastening devices, such as bolts and straps 20, for securing the ends of an automobile axle on the blocks.

In the construction of the crate the bottom, side, end and top units are separately constructed as described, and then assembled to com lete the crate. In the assembled crate the ottom ends of the posts 12, with which each of the end units is provided, rest on the exposed surfaces 5 of the skids 1 at the several corners of the crate, the sides of the lower ends of the posts bearing against the ends of the transverse bars 4 and the ends of longitudinal rails 'Z. The lower transverse member 10 of the end unit rests on the upper face of the transverse bar 4 and aids in ac cepting loads that may be placed upon the top. of the crate to transmit such loads to the bar a'and thus to the skids 1 where they are absorbed. Reinforcing corner braces or cleats 10 may be used if desired. In the assembled crate the lower longitudinal members 15 of the side units rest on the outer portions of the upper sides of the skids l and bear against the outer faces of the Ion. gitudinal rails 7. The ends of the upper 1011-, gitudinal members 16 of the side units. rest on the upper ends 13 of the posts 12 where they enter recesses 13, while the ends 14 of the side units may preferably overlap the ends 12 of the end units falling flush with the outer side thereof as will be understood. The top unit, formed by the; boards 23 and cross bars 22, rests on the upper edges of the side units and the end units and is further supported by the cross bars 21 which rest on the cleats 18 secured to the side units thus placing any load falling upon the top unit upon the vertical side and end units. The several units are securely nailed and spiked together and in addition to the parts described various cleats may be used as'desired.

Itwill be noted that the completed crate is provided on its underside with skids which form the supporting base of the crate and which prevent injury to the floor of the crate if the crate bedragged along a pier or the floor of a building. The skids are securely and rigidly tiedftogether and the end unit-s and side units, are directly supported by the skids themselves. Furthermore the. side units', are also supported by the posts of the end units, thus effecting not only the additional support and strengthening of the sides but also the bracing of the ends and the tying of all of the units together on the skids. It is: advantageous to have the boards of the side units vertically disposed because they can all be secured together and support ed by the longitudinal members 15 which rest on the skids and by the longitudinal members 16 which rest on the posts of the end units and because great stresses will be successfully resisted by the wood in' the direction of its grain length. Similarly iti's advantageous to have the boards of the end units vertically disposed because they can all be secured to and supported by the lower transverse member 10 which rests on the transverse bar 4 supported on the skids. It is also of advanta e to have the boards. of the floor and top of the crate extend longitudinally because they can be secured to the several trans verse bars, thus increasing the strength and rigidity of the crate.

The crate illustrated is specially designed for packaging automobiles for export shipment. For such shipment the wheels and top of the automobile are removed, the wheels usually being hung on the sides of the crate and the top usually being secured over the engine hood. The entire weight of the rear end of the car is supported on the blocks 19 on which the ends of the rear axle rest and to which the axle is secured by the fastening devices 20. The running boards and fenders extend outwardly over the rails 7 and the longitudinal members 15 and only slightly clear the inner faces of] the side boards let while the braces 17 are arranged to clear the slopes of the fenders. The top of the back seat just clears the top of the crate and the ends of the car 'just clear the ends of the crate. The construction of the crate as described makes it possible thus to package the car with very little clearance without sacrificing, butrather increasing, the strength and rigidity of the crate as compared with crates usually used for the pur pose. Of course, the freight on export shipments of this character is-computed by dis placement and the present invention has effected a very large saving in freight payments by exporters of automobiles and at the same time has increased the strength and safety of the package.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A crate comprising, laterally spaced longitudinal skids, a floor composed of longitudinally extending pieces secured to and between the skids and having its top surface flush with the top, surfaces of the skids, Y

longitudinally spaced transverse bars se cured to the tops of the skids, end walls supported by the skids, side walls supported by the skids and end walls, a top supported on the end walls and side walls, blocks respectively secured to the skids toward one end of the crate and means for securing the ends of an automobile axle on the blocks.

9.. A crate, comprising laterally spaced longitudinal skids, transverse end bars secured to the skids, longitudinally spaced transverse intermediate bars secured: to the skids, longitudinal rails respectively secured to the skids, a floor composed of longitudinally extending pieces secured to the bars and having its bottom surface above the bottoms of the skids, end, walls composed of'ver tically extending pieces and having vertical posts at their ends and a member extending between the posts near the lower edge ofthe wall, the posts resting on the skids and the members respectively resting on theend bars, side walls composed of vertically extending pieces and having longitudinal members near their bottom and top edges, thebottom members respectively resting on the skids and against the rails and the top members resting on the posts, and a top supported on the end walls and side walls.

8. A crate, comprising laterally spaced longitudinal skids, transverse end bars secured to the skids, longitudinally spaced transverse intermediate bars secured to the skids, longitudinal rails respectively secured to the skids, a floor composed of longitudinally extending pieces secured to the bars and having its bottom surface above the bottoms of the skids, end walls composed of vertically extending pieces and having vertical posts at their side edges, and a member extending between the posts near the lower edge of the wall, the posts resting on the skids and the members respectively resting on the end bars, side walls composed of vertically extending pieces and having longitudinal members near their bottom and top edges, the bottom members respectively resting on the skids and against the rails and the top members resting on the posts, a top supported on the end walls and side walls, blocks respectively resting on the skids and against the rails toward one end of the crate, and means for securing the ends of an automobile axle on the blocks.

4. In a crate construction, a plurality of members adapted to serve as skids, sheathing arranged between said skids, above the bottoms and substantially flush with the tops thereof to form a flooring, runner members secured to said skids intermediate the side edges and extending lengthwise of the top faces thereof, tie members forming securing means for said sheathing and extending between said runner members and cooperatively connected thereto to horizontally brace the structure formed, and means constructed and arranged to support a crated article above said skids whereby stresses imposed by said article are transmitted to said skids.

5. In a crate construction, a plurality of members adapted to serve as skids and primary supporting means, runner members secured to the top faces of said skids inter mediate of the side edges and extending lengthwise thereof, tie members extending between said runner members and cooperatively connected thereto to horizontally brace and space the structure thus formed, side units having supporting means engaging the top faces of said skids adjacent said runner members, and end units having means to engage a top portion of said side units for the support and security thereof, said end units being supported through the medium of the top faces of the ends of said skids.

6. A structural corner construction for a crate comprising, a primary supporting sill, a runner on top of said sill, extending longitudinally and spacedfrom the edge thereof to provide a ledge, a wall structurevpositioned and supported by said ledge and adjacent edge face of said sill and means to support the weight of an article to be crated directly upon said sill.

7. A structural corner construction for a crate comprising, a sill forming a primary support, a runner atop said sill and intermediate the side edges thereof to provide a ledge, a wall structure positioned and supported by said ledge, the adjacent edge face of said sill and the adjacent side face of said runner, and means to support the weight of an article to be crated arranged upon the opposite ledge in abutting relation to the correspondingly adjacent face of said runner.

8. A structural corner construction for a crate comprising a sill forming a primary support, a runner extending longitudinally of the top face of said sill, intermediate the side edges and terminating short of the ends thereof to provide ledges at the sides and ends of the top face of said sill, side and end wall structures supported upon said ledges with portions in abutting relation to the ends and one side face of said runner, and means to support the weight of an article to be crated arranged upon the other side ledge in abutting relation to a side face of said runner.

9. An automobile crate comprising a plurality of spaced longitudinal skids, flooring connecting said skids, side and end wall units secured to said skids and a brace structure for said side wall units so constructed and arranged as to clear running boards and fenders of the enclosed automobiles, thus longitudinal skids, a floor secured tothe skids and forming therewith a bottom unit, end wall units having vertical posts at their ends resting on said skids, side wall units having longitudinal members near their bottom and top edges respectively, the bottom members resting on said skids and the top members resting on said posts, and a top unit supported on said side and end wall units.

11. A crate comprising a bottom unit, two pairs of wall units, one pair of said wall units having vertical posts at their ends resting on said bottom unit, the other-pair of said wall units having longitudinal members near their top edges, said members being adapted to rest on and be supported by said posts and a top Lunit supported on said a pair of opposed Wall units supported by said bottom unit and having vertical posts at their ends, a second pair of opposed Wall units supported by said bottom unit and having longitudinal members adjacent their 10 top edges, said members resting on said posts and a top uni-t supported on said wall units.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name'this 29 day of October, 1923.

HARRY N. KNOWLTON, 

